HAWORTHIA

All Haworthias are miniature plants and well suited for window-sill collections, for they occupy little space and grow well in a compost of 1 part loam, 1 part coarse sand, and 3 parts leaf soil. The growing season is from March to October and during this period the plants should be frequently watered. In winter, watering should be reduced to an absolute minimum; in fact, it is even better to keep the soil on the dry side. All flower with long thin flexible racemes, single or branched, along which stand small white flowers with green or pink markings, always of the same type. The 6 free perianth leaves curve back at the tip, 3 remain erect, while 3 of them curve downwards. This is an invaluable characteristic and distinguishes the Haworthias from others of the family. They all come from South Africa.

Haworthia Chahvinii. A leafy-stemmed plant with the leaves in a rosette spiralled the whole length of the stem. A particularly attractive species, dark green with whitish tubercles on the outer face of the leaves.

Haworthia coarctata. The leaves form a spiral rosette the length of the stem, dark green, with small tubercles on raised longitudinal lines. The outside or back of the leaves is only sparsely covered with tubercles.

Haworthia attenuata. Has quite narrow, elongated leaves, with white tubercles in more or less broken transverse rows, more numerous on the outer face.

Haworthia fasciata. Similar to the preceding species. The rosettes are stemless, making many offsets. The leaves are numerous, up to J inch broad and I J inches long, rather shiny green with elongated pearly tubercles, which join together in transverse bands.

Haworthia limifolia. Forms rosettes, the leaves of which are about ij inches long and § inch broad at the base, lanceolate, and concave on the inner face. They are marked on both sides with 15 to 20 raised wavy transverse lines. The plant is dark green in colour.

Haworthia tessellata. Cape Province. The leaves are arranged in three series in stemless rosettes, and are 1 to I| inches long, by about 1 inch broad, recurving from the base. The upper side of the leaf is almost transparent with darker transverse and longitudinal veins, the edges finely toothed. This species is one of the most charming varieties of the genus.

Haioorthia margaritifera. The rosette is stemless, making many offsets, and growing up to about 6 inches in height. The leaves are lanceolate, dark green, both sides having large, roundish pearly tubercles.

Haworthia atrovirens. In its style of growth the plant very much resembles some species of Semper-vivum. It forms a flat, dwarf rosette of small dark green toothed and pointed leaves; the lower surface of the leaf has also a row of thorny teeth in the centre.